60ft container giant 'Omni Ideal X' to be centre of extravaganza in Southampton

THIS is the 60ft metal giant made from huge shipping containers that will tower over Southampton Water as part of a dazzling summer extravaganza.

The massive structure will dominate the skyline at Mayflower Park next month as hundreds of people flock to the water’s edge for a spectacular show.

Aerial acrobats will cascade from the “arms” of the stunning figure in a display culminating in fizzing pyrotechnics and colourful visual surprises.

The so-called “Omni Ideal X”

features eight shipping containers carefully stacked together in a nod to Southampton’s world famous port heritage.

It is all part of the Waterlitz event in Southampton on June 16 – an Art at the Heart project.

It came about as a result of a cross-Channel collaboration between the Nuffield Theatre’s artistic director, Patrick Sandford, and producer Sharon Lawless
with the director of Generik Vapeur in France, Pierre Berthelot.

And the vast figure, which organisers say symbolises dwindling natural resources and the part we can play in protecting the planet, will be heading to Winchester on July 6, where it will be the launch piece for the city’s annual Hat Fair.

The Southampton event follows on from outdoor events Barricade, Alive and Ablaze and Midsummer Dreams, but has moved from the usual location of Guildhall Square because of the piece’s size, as well
as Mayflower Park’s more appropriate waterfront location.

Mr Sandford told the Daily Echo: “It’s a joy to work with another tremendous, inventive French company, Generik Vapeur, and on such an ambitious project.

“Containers are such a feature of Southampton’s working life that Omni Ideal X should feel completely at home here.”